Caricature
13 August 1904 (drawn)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This caricature is of the comic duo Burns & Evans performing spoof acrobatics at the Grand Theatre of Varieties, Hanley, during the week of 8 August 1904. They were billed as ‘American comedians, as Alfonso and Gasten in "Funnambulism"‘. It is one of the many superb caricatures of Edwardian music hall performers that were drawn by the artist George Cooke when he was based at the Grand Theatre. He compiled them in a series of albums.
Acrobats performed in early 20th century variety as regularly as they appeared in circus. Comedy acrobatic acts were obviously popular in Hanley. Morris & Morris, a similar act also sketched by George Cooke, had been on the bill the previous week. The Five Olracs, described as ‘comedy acrobats’, were on the same bill.
Acrobats performed in early 20th century variety as regularly as they appeared in circus. Comedy acrobatic acts were obviously popular in Hanley. Morris & Morris, a similar act also sketched by George Cooke, had been on the bill the previous week. The Five Olracs, described as ‘comedy acrobats’, were on the same bill.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Pen and ink and wash on paper |
| Brief description | Caricature of the comic acrobatic duo Burns & Evans, from an album of caricatures drawn by George Cooke. Dated 13 August 1904. |
| Physical description | Pen, ink and wash caricature on pink paper of Burns & Evans, full-length, performing an impossible balancing act. The supporting performer wears a yellow and black striped leotard, white tights and red striped gaiters, and is holding a pole from which his tutu-clad partner is balancing by a fingertip. |
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| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Object history | This caricature is of the comic acrobatic duo Burns & Evans, performing at the Grand Theatre of Varieties, Hanley, for the week of 8th August 1904. They were billed as 'American Comedians, as Alfonso and Gasten in "Funnambulism"' Other performers on the same bill included Charles Prelle and his Talking Dogs; Florence Hill, 'refined actress and expert dancer'; The Five Olracs. 'comedy acrobats', and Spring and Spring and Miss Rosie Carlo 'barrel jumpers'. It comes from the first of several albums compiled by the graphic artist George Cooke, featuring performers working in music halls in the early 20th century. The album is dated 1903-4-5. |
| Summary | This caricature is of the comic duo Burns & Evans performing spoof acrobatics at the Grand Theatre of Varieties, Hanley, during the week of 8 August 1904. They were billed as ‘American comedians, as Alfonso and Gasten in "Funnambulism"‘. It is one of the many superb caricatures of Edwardian music hall performers that were drawn by the artist George Cooke when he was based at the Grand Theatre. He compiled them in a series of albums. Acrobats performed in early 20th century variety as regularly as they appeared in circus. Comedy acrobatic acts were obviously popular in Hanley. Morris & Morris, a similar act also sketched by George Cooke, had been on the bill the previous week. The Five Olracs, described as ‘comedy acrobats’, were on the same bill. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.392:9-2002 |
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| Record created | November 26, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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